Condenser for automobile radiators



Obt. 23, 1928.

s. K. PALMER CONDENSER FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS Filed Feb 15, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,829

S. K. PALMER CONDENSER FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS Filed 8681s, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j:'9.e3. l L

5 1 8 7 Z k l 1 I 1 Q 1 Patented 0st. 23, 1928.

UNITED STATES SILAS K. PALMER, 03? LAKE PARK, IOWA.

CONDENSER FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS.

Application filed February 13, 1924. Serial No. 692,557.

This invention relates to condensers for automobile radiators.

My invention is an improvement on those devices heretofore known to the art which have for their purpose the condensation of steam and vapor evolved from. the water in the radiator of an automobile. lVhile it has been proposed to provide means, such as a coil of pipe or tubing, for condensing the vapor or steam, such devices have not been entirely satisfactory because they have made no provision, or inadequate provision, for the escape of the air. Consequently, while earlier devices may have in part been successful, they have not satisfactorily 1 ermitted circulation and hence only a small degree of condensation has resulted so that the pressure has not been kept down and boiling in the radiator has not been prevented.

My object is to provide an improved condenser, adapted to be carried bodily by the radiator cap, which will etliciently condense vapor and steam, and cause the water of condensation to return to the radiator, thus minimizing evaporation of the water, alcohol, or other anti-freezing mixture. Another Iob ject is the provision of a novel condenser, carried by the radiator cap, which will not only satisfactorily perform its functions as previously set forth but will also act as a temperature indicator or signal to notify the driver of safe and abnormal temperature conditions.

My invention comprises a condenser and air relief means, the latter being so construct I ed, if desired, to serve as an indicator or signal for the purpose of notifying the driver of temperature conditions.

I wish it understood, however, that the in-' vention is not restricted, in its broadest aspect, to the provision of a signal or indicator as aforesaid as it may consistmerely of the condenser and air relief means.

Preferably, although not necessarily, the condenser will be in the form of a coil having a part thereof in communication with the space above the water or solution in the radiator and another part thereof communicating with a drainage pipe by which the condensed water or solution. will be delivered to the body of fluid in the radiator. Combined with the condenser is an air relief device by which the air is permitted to escape from the condenser to relieve the back pressure which, if not relieved, would hold back the vapor or steam and prevent such access to the condenser as would result in sufficient condensation to keep down the pressure and allow circulation. The employment of an air relief device of some character, Whether of the construction hereinafter described and shown in the drawings, or otherwise, is essential to the successful operation of the invention and results in successful operation in a device of this character, whereas failure to employ an air relief device has heretofore prevented earlier condensers of this character from properly functioning under all conditions.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated certain embodiments of the invention which have been found to be practical and successful but it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and notin limitation of the scope of the invention as I am aware that the condenser and the air relief means might be otherwise constructed and still satisfactorily function.

In the acco'n'ipanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the device applied to the radiator of an automobile, the radiator being in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the invention alone, certain parts being broken away and other parts shown in section.

Fig. .3 is an elevation of a modification, certain parts being broken away.

Fig. l is a detail view showing another way of securing the ends of the tubes or pipe in the radiator cap.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of the form of construction shown Fig. l; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing another form of air relief valve which may be substituted for the air relief valve shown in Fl 1, 2 and lleferring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the upper part of an automobile radiator is shown. at l, the radiator cap appearing at 2. i

The condenser is in the form of a coil 3 of piping or tubin preferably of copper.

e: l Vhile sizeis not of the essence of the invention, apractical en'ibodiment of the condenser 3 in v be of quarter inch copper tubing, the coils being separated by about a. quarter of an inch space from each other and having an internal diameter of about three inches. One end 4; of the condenser terminates a little below the radiator cap 2. The other end 5 is welded to a drain pipe 6 which is of such length that it will extend into the water of the radiator as shown in Figure 1. The end 4 and the drain pipe 6 are secured in any dcsired manner in a. headed bushing 7 which has external screw threads and may screw into the cap 2 or pass through an opening therein. The bushing 7 is held by a nut- 8 on the screw threaded part thereof and a tight litis effected by employing a washer or ga list 9, the purpose being to prevent the escape of vapor or steam through the cap 2.

An air relief device 10 is mounted on the drain pipe 6 and the shell or cylinder of said air relief device is in communication with said drain pipe, thus putting it in communication with the end 5 of the condense a The air relief device 10 when in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, has a plunger or piston 11 of the construction commonly employed in pump barrels, the flexible cup 12 thereof sealing against the cylinder walls when pressure is admitted below the plunger and allowing air to pass when suction exists below said plunger. This t go of plunger will not allow vapor or steam to escape or a vacuum to be formed in the radiator. The plunger is provided with a stem 13 which slides through an opening'in the upper end of the shell. The extent to which the upper end of the stem or rod 13 is projected above the cylinder, indicates to the driver the extent of pressure existing underneath the plunger and the general temperature conditions inside the radiator. The stem could be marked or graduated if desired hen the stem is only slightly exposed the driver knows that there is not enough vapor being evolved to force air out of the condenser 3. As more and more of the extent of the stem 13 becomes exposed, the driver learns that the temperature is rising and the coil 3 is condensing. \Vhen excessive pressure has accumulated the plunger 11 is forced up toward the top of the cylinder until the excess air or vapor can escape through ports 14. The stem 13 is then so fully exposed that if it remains in this condition and vapor continues to escape through the ports 14, the driver is thus informed that the engine is over-heating because under ordinary conditions of running thecooling surface offered by the condenser 3 should result in condensation of all vapor accumulated within the radiator.

The plunger 11 is held down with a light pressure by a line coiled hair spring 15. A heavier coiled spring 16 which surrounds the stem 13 and bears against the plunger 11, is adapted to engage the upper end of the cylinder when the plunger is in position to allow air and vapor to escape through the ports 14. To permit vapor to escape through the ports 14, the pressure must be suiiicient to compress the spring 16 and when the pressure is high enough for that purpose, abnormal conditions existand the engine is known to be over-heating from some cause which needs attention.

In employing my invention, the usual overflow pipe for the radiator may be plugged up.

Under ordinary conditions of running, the Vapor will pass up into the lower part of the condenser and will condense and run back through the end 4. On long drives or difficult roads or in hill climbing, when the water in the radiator boils, the entire effective area of the condenser will probably be needed to effect proper condensation. The vapor entering the coil 3 will force the air out of the coil into the air relief device 10 until sufficient coolingsurface o'lthc coil is accessible to the vapor, whereupon the vapor will condense and run back through the end 1 or the drain pipe 6. Under ordinary conditions the plunger 11 not raised sufficiently to vent the pressure through the ports 14 but when an abnormal condition exists such venting will. take place. 11011 the vapor has become condensed or the water cooled, the air will reenter the condenser and the spring 15 will force the plunger down.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4-, 5, the construction is the same as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with minor differences. The end 1 of the condenser 23, instead of being connected with the lowermost coil, rises through the coils and is connected with the uppermost coil. The lowermost coil of the condenser is connected at 5 to the drain pipe 6. The vapor has to rise to the top coil before the coils become effective for condensation purposes but condensation will occur in the end 4 just the same. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 condensation will drain through the end 1 upto the capacity of substantially the whole extent of the condenser coils. In the construction shown in Fig. 3, after the vapor has access to the uppermost coil, condensation drains through the entire condenser to the drain pipe 6.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a slightly different manner of securing the pipe 4 and drain pipe 6 in the bushing 7. The said pipes 41 and 6 are flattened as shown at 17 and welded together.

Fig. 6 illustrates an air relief device which may be substituted for the air relief device of the constructions of Figs. 1, 2, While the interior construction is not shown, the shell 18 encloses an automatic air valve such as is commonly employed on steam heating radiators. This air valve works on the thermostatic principle. Cold air can pass either way through the valve but when warm air or vapor enters the valve it causes expansion of the metal which results in closing the valve. The valve is secured to the drain pipe 6, which communicates with the interior of the valve casing 18. The terminal 5 of the condenser coil 3 is connected to the drain pipe 6. WVhen this form of air relief device is employed there is no provision for indicating temperature conditions such as effected by the air relief device of Figs. 1, 2, 3. I reserve the right, however, to employ in connection with the air reliefdevice 18 or the condenser when used in connection llhv with said device 18, an indicator which will disclose ten'iperature conditions.

In each form of the invention the condenser and air relief device are bodily carried by the radiator cap so as to be unitary therewith and attachable and detachable as a unit in relation to the radiator 1.

I claim:

1. A condenser for automobile radiators, comprising a radiator cap a condenser comprising a coiled tube located above the cap and having its ends connected to said cap, said coiled tube being adapted to condense the vapors evolved within the radiator, and a combined air-relief valve and a movable mechanical visible indicator connected to the condenser in the region of the return end of the tube thereof, said valve being adapted to operate the mechanical indicator. I

2. A condenser for automobile radiators, comprising a radiator cap, a condenser com- )rising a coiled tube located above the cap and having its ends connected to said cap, said coiled tube being adapted to condense the vapors evolved within the radiator, and a combined air-relief valve and a movable mechanical visible indicator connected to the condenser in the region of the return end of the tube thereof, said valve being adapted to operate the mechanical indicator, means being provided whereby the pressure in the con densing coil will be relieved after the movable mechanical visibleindicator has been moved a predetermined distance by the pressure.

' 3. A condenser for automobile radiators, comprising a radiator cap, a condensing coil having its ends connected to said cap, said coil being adapted to condense the vapors evolved within the radiator, and a combined air-relief valve and a mechanical visible indicator connected to the condensing coil in the region of the return end thereof, said valve comprising a ported cylinder subject to the pressure existing within the condensing coil, a piston movable in said cylinder, and a visible mechanical indicator operated by the piston, said piston being adapted to open the port of the cylinder when the piston has moved to a predetermined position, and said piston and indicator being adapted to return to normal position when there is no pressure in the condensing coil.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

SILAS K. PALMER. 

